Sealing closure



Feb. 7, 1950 c. P. KRUPP 2,496,878

SEALING CLOSURE Filed Feb. 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l LLI Feb. 7, 1950 c. P. KRUPP 2,496,878

SEALING CLOSURE Filed Feb. 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zob Y h 2.0.. 1 nir z al 7W-HEL L EEED//F-KEUFF Patented Feb. f1, 1950 SEALIN G CLOSURE Carroll P. Krupp, Barberton, Ohio, assigner to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York p Applicativi: February z, 194s, serial No. 575,713

12 claims'. (o1. ca -205.1)

The invention relates to sealing closures and especially to portions of such closures for sealing the ends of slide fastener structures.

Objects of the invention are to provide for sealing effectively adjacent margins of an aperture in a wall, especially at anl end of such aperture; to provide for such sealing by lip-action of the sealing elements; to provide for continuity of lipaction sealing along such margins around the end of the aperture; and to provide for simplicity of construction, convenience of manufacture, and ease and effectiveness of operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide for sealing effectively an end of a slide fastener structure; to provide for continuity of sealing along a seating surface-of a runner at the end of the fastener; to provide for lip-action sealing at such surface of the runner, especially at an end of the latter; to provide for locating the seating surface of the runner in the end sealing position; to provide for manipulating the runner from either or both faces of the slide fastener; and to provide a runner suitable for the purpose.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a sealing closure including a slide fastener in assembled relation with the apertured Wall of an article, the closure being in a closed condition and constructed according to and embodying the invention, parts being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the closure in a partly opened condition, the Wall of the article being omitted,

Fig. 3 is a side view of the closure shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3, parts 'being broken away,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view in an enlarged scale from above of the runner for engaging and disengaging the fastener elements of the closure,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the runner shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

In the illustrative form of the invention shown The closure I5 includes sealing elements ZI) and A 2| of resilient rubber 0r other rubber-like material extending along adjacent margins of flexible stringers 22 and 23, which may be of woven fabric, at a face of the closure and positionable in overlapping sealing relation to one another for closing the margins. The closure may be independently assembled as a unit and the fabric and rubber parts united as by vulcanization under heat and pressure, as shown especially in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Preferably, the sealing elements are generally L-shape in section providing 'base portions 2a, and 2Ia mounted directly upon and bridging the end portions of cooperating fastener elements 24 and 25 secured to the material of such margins of the stringers, and providing lateral portions 20h and 2lb desirably tapering to edges for lipaction sealing and extending toward one another from the base portions. The lateral portions overlying the engaging parts of such fastener elements are in separated relation therewith Whereby space is provided therebetween for receiving an upper plate element 26 of 'a runner 21, which runner engages and disengages the fastener elements and provides for separating and for positioning the sealing elements in the desired overlapping sealing relation, whenrit is manipulated along lthe fastener elements. The sealing elements may be beveled at their outside outer corners to provide hinging zones of the rubber material in the regions of reduced thickness in the direction away from the lateral portions and at the side of the junctures of the base portions with the lateral portions at their inside surfaces at the fastener elements. The sealing elements are desirably molded and may be secured to the fastener elements and to the stringers by a suitable adhesive such, for example, as rubber cement or by a vulcanized bond or both, and the rubber material thereof may be in continuation of coatings 28 and 29 of like rubber material on the faces of the stringers for assuring sealing of the latter throughout their extent.

For effectively sealing at the end ISa of the closure I5, especially for the independent assembiy thereof shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the sealing elements including the tapered lateral portions h and 2lb extend along the stringers and merge continuously with one another lnwardly of the extreme ends of the stringers providing continuity of the sealing elements wholly about such end Isa of the aperture. The stringers and sealing elements are desirably flared outwardly relative to one another adjacent the merger of the sealing elements, whereby a slot 30 closed at one end is defined by such elements for receiving the runner 21 having a seating surface adapted to cooperate with the elements 2l and 2| for continuity of end sealing, said seating surfacecomprising upper faces Il, Il of the upper plate element 26 and the rounded end face of a projecting portion 46, as described more fully hereinafter with reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

Preferably, a stiffening portion 3l of resilient rubber-like material is united integrally as by suitable molding and bonding with the stringers and sealing elements for facilitating the merging union of the sealing elements, for bracing the latter elements at the region of their merger and for maintaining such elements and the stringers in the flared condition while permitting the drawing together and flexing of the lateral portions 26h and 2lb into sealing contact, especially at the merging region thereof, with the seating surface of the runner 21.

The stiiening portion 3|, which may be generally U-shape in plan or round or other suitable shape and in continuation of the sealing elements, includes a base portion 32 and depending arm portions 33 and 34 extending from the base portion 32 and embracing the fastener elements and the sealing elements 2l and 2|. The rubber material of the base portion 32 may extend flush with the lower face at 36 of and between the stringers to the ends of the latter, as shown especially in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, whereby the base portion 32 facilitates maintaining the stringers in the flared and spaced-apart relation. The base portion 32 with which the sealing elements unitedly merge, is provided with a recess at 36 defined in part -by an upper surface 31 in continuation of the corresponding undersurfaces of the merging lateral portions, whereby such recess at 36 provides space for receiving the protruding end of the runner 21. 'I'he lateral portions 20h and 2lb extending along the arms 33 and 34 being in separated relation with the adjacent fastener elements, provide space for receiving the remainder of the runner including the upper plate element 26. The rubber material of the stiifening portion 3| may also be in continuation of and merged with the rubber coatings 28 and 29 on the stringers whereby a substantially smooth surface is provided at the end Ila of the sealing closure Il for facilitating the assembly of the closure with the wall of the article.,

To the end of locating the runner at a determinate position in the slot 3l for permitting flexing the lateral portions 26h and 2lb into lipsealing contact with the upper plate 2i along its extent and especially at the end thereof adjacent the recess 36, suitable stop means 3l is provided and, as shown especially in Fig. 2, may include several fastener elements joined ln abutting faceto-face contact with one another on each stringer at determinate locations spaced from the base portion 32. Such an arrangement of joined fastener elements prevents further engagement 4 of the fastener elements in the direction towards the end |9a and the runner is thus positioned in the slot 30 in a manner such that the lateral portions are flexed into continuity of sealing contact with the runner.

For further bracing the sealing elements while also bracing the fastener elements at the ared region of the stringers and especially for avoiding the breaking of the seal by objectionable flexure of the closure at i9a in the direction normal to a face of the closure, the stiifening portion 3| may be provided with a generally U-shaped spring element 36 having converging arms of flexible material such. for example. as round spring wire, which spring element may be positioned substantially in contact with the fabric material of the stringers. The spring 3S is imbedded in the rubber-like material such that the base of the spring extends along adjacent the end wall of the recess 36 and extends along the arm portions 33 and 34 substantially in contact with the ends of the fastener elements along the flared region of the stringers 22 and 23. The spring element 39 is arranged such that it tends to urge the adjacent fastener elements at opposite margins toward one another while permitting outwardly separating movement of the fastener elements at the region at III of the stiiening portion to facilitate their alignment for entrance to and through the passages of the runner 21 to the extent permitted by the stop means 38. In addition to thus bracing and positioning the fastener elements, the spring element 39, by virtue of its embedment in the rubber material, facilitates maintaining the lateral portions of the sealing elements at the stiifening portion 3| in the desired position for flexing into continuity of contact along the slot 30 with the runner 21 for the closed condition of the sealing closure, as shown especially in Fis'. 1.

Furthermore, the spring element 39 also advantageously resists undue fiexure of the closure at such end region in the direction normal to the face of the closure, whereby the lateral portions maintain their resiliently flexed contact with the runner, especially at the merging union of such lateral portions. 'I'hus breakage of the seal by movement of the lateral portions away from the seating surface of the runner is avoided.

The runner 21 also advantageously provides for positioning the sealing elements in the desired overlapping sealing relation, and for coacting with the sealing elements for sealing the end ISa of the closure I5. The runner 21, as shown especially in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, includes a channeled lower plate element Il, the upper plate element 26, and a spreader post 42 including a protruding end portion 42a at the end at 43 of the runner for supporting the upper and lower plates in spaced-apart relation such that the inner surfaces of such elements 26 and Il together with the surfaces of the spreader post 42 define converging passages along the spreader post which passages merge with one another into a single passage extending to the other end at 44 of the runner. The spreader post is desirably tapered in cross-section and positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal center line 21a of the runner. The protruding end portion 42a is rounded in cross-section, transversely and longitudinally at the center line of the runner, as shown especially in Figs. 6, 7 and 9.

The side walls lla and lib of the channeled andere element 4| at the end 43 are provided with outwardly flared and generally rounded in crosssection nib portions 4|c, 4|d for facilitating the free movement of the fastener elements to and from the passages of the runner while avoiding jamming of the fastener elements during the entering action thereof. The channeled element is desirably of greater transverse width than the upper plate and at the end 43 is of compound curvature in plan providing end surfaces smoothly merging with surface of the rounded protruding end portion 42a. The lower surface of the channeled plate 4I across the end at 43 is also rounded to merge smoothly with the rounded protruding portion 42a.

Such an end arrangement including spreader post 42 facilitates the relatively free movement of the runner between the separated lateral portions of the sealing elements and avoids objectionable wear on the edges of the tapered lateral portions, especially during the engaging manipulation of the runner 21. Also, when the runner is positioned in the slot 36 at the end at |3a, the rounded protruding end portion 42a is positioned in the space at 36 and beneath the merged lateral portions of the sealing elements, which flex slidingly upward and resiliently press conformingly on the curved surface of such end portion, as shown especially in Fig. 5.

For operating the runner from the face of the closure opposite the sealing elements, a lower projecting portion 45 having an elongated slot 45a therein for receiving a suitable-pull tab may be provided at the lower face of the channeled element 4|, such portion 45 extending along and symmetrically about the longitudinal center line of the runner, desirably from the end 43 to the other end 44. Such projecting portion at the end 43 conforms substantially with the rounded contour of the protruding end portion 42a.

For manipulating the runner from the other face of the closure, an upper projecting portion 46 having a generally streamline-in-section stem 46b extending upwardly from the plate element 26 may be provided, the upper projecting lportion having a suitable slot 46a therein for receiving a thong or pull tab 4l. 'Ihe projecting portion 46 is integrally united through its stem 46h with the upper plate 26 at the region at 48 at, which region the stem 46o extends upwardly lbetween the lateral portions of the sealing elements, especially at the slot 30. The portion 46 is, as shown especially in Fig. 4, in divergingly separated relation with the plate 26 in the remainder of its extent at the region at 49 for accommodating the lateral portions of the sealing elements in overlapped relation to one another therebetween. The projecting portion 46 is positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal center line 21a of the runner at the end 43 and extends therefrom in diagonally oiset relation to such center line toward the other end 44 and in the direction toward the side flange 4|b of the channeled element 4|. For avoiding objectionable abrasion of the edge of the tapered lateral portion 2lb due to rubbing contact thereof with the stemA 46h at the region at 48, such stem is provided desirably with a tapered and rounded in-section relief or groove 52 extending rearwardly toward the end 43 and at the side thereof nearest a face 50 of the upper plate 26 whereby such lateral portion 2lb may slide along the stem and the upper plate 26 with minimum abrading action on said edge.

The projecting portion 46 including the stem 46h at the end 43 of the runner is desirably rounded in cross-section and slopes downwardly toward such end 43 in addition to being inwardly curved at its junction with the upper plate 26 so as to merge smoothly with inwardly curved and upwardly extending faces 50 and 5I of such upper plate 26 and the protruding portion 42a.

The upper plate 26, at the juncture of the curved faces 50 and 5|, is rigid in a diagonal manner with respect to the center line 21a and extending from the stem 46h to the end 44 correspondingly with the diagonally extending projecting portion 46. The upper plate 26 is progressively graduated in increasing thickness toward the end 43 along the line of and about the ridge substantially to the end of the projecting portion nearest the end 43, whereby the ridge at the junctionof the curved faces 50 and 5I progressively increases in inclination from the other end 44 of the runner to the stem 46h with respect to the fiat inner face of such plate element 26. The relatively thin sides of the plate element 26 are of substantially uniform thickness and rounded toward the inner face of the element. Such arrangement of the projecting portion 46 and ridged upper plate element 26 makes possible the provision of curved faces 56 and 5| of widths relatively corresponding to the Widths of the lateral portions 20h and 2lb for accommodating such lateral portions and exing the same; since lateral portion 2lb is desirably of slightly greater width than lateral portion 20h.

For coacting with the sealing elements at the slot 30 and for facilitating positioning the sealing elements in the desired overlapping sealing relation with one another, the upper faces 50 and 5| of the plate element 26 are inwardly curved or dished, as shown especially in Fig. 8. Such faces may be sharply curved at the ridged region of the plate 26 and less-sharply curved at the sides of the plate 26, or may be of uniform radius of curvature, if desired. The inwardly curved faces 50 and 5| merge smoothly with the sides of the stem 46h at the region at 48 and also merge smoothly with the rounded protrudingend portion 42a of the spreader post 42 and the sloping and curved end of the projecting portion 4S at the end 43 of the runner. The plate 26 at the end 43 may have rounded corners adjacent the nib portions 4|c and 4Id of the lower plate 4| and is also suitably shaped to merge smoothly with the protruding end portion of the spreader post 42.

With this arrangement, especially of the upper plate and projecting portion 46, the lateral portions 20b and 2lb flex resiliently upwardly in contact with the inwardly curved faces 50 and 5|, and the lateral portion 2lb smoothly slides across the sealing surface of the lateral portion 20h at the region at 49 of the runner and with negligible rubbing action against the streamline stem 46h at the region at 43 during the engaging operation of the runner; thus minimizing wear on the edges of the lateral portions 20o and 2lb. Such an arrangement also provides a continuously curved seating surface on the upper plate 26 and at the rounded end at 43 of the projecting portion 46, which makes possible continuity of lip-sealing action by the lateral portions 26h and 2lb with the runner despite the upwardly extending stem 46h, when the runner is positioned in the slot 30, whereby the closure |5 is in a sealed condition, especially at the end at |9a thereof.

For mounting the independently assembled sealing closure, shown especially in Figs. 2, 3

and 4, to the wall of an article such, for example, as footwear, for closing adJacent margins I3 and I1 of an aperture in such wall, the stringers 22 and 23 may be secured to the margins I3 and I1 in a suitable manner such, for example, as by rubber cement 53 or by sewing (not shown) or both, the closure being positioned such that the sealing elements extend through the aperture in the wall and are at the outer face of such wall for preventing, for example, the entrance of harmful substances such -as water. snow, dirt and other foreign material into the footwear. For further securing the stringers at the margins and assuring sealing at the wall, tape elements 54 and 55 of suitable rubber material may be adhesively attached along the stringers in overlapping relation therewith and with the margins I6 and I1, as shown especially in Fig. 1. Also, a suitable tape element I3 may be adhesively secured across the ends of the stringers 22 and 23 and the strip elements 54 and 55 at the end at I9 of the aperture in the footwear I 8. The other end of the aperture may be open or may be closed and sealed in any suitable manner such, for example, as by a suitable tape element (not shown) adhesively secured to and positioned across and overlapping the ends of the sealing elements and 2I at the outer face of the wall, and secured adhesively in overlapping relation with the margins I6 and I1 at such closed end.

In the operation of the closure for the open condition of the aperture in the footwear I8, the runner 21 is slidingly manipulated along the fastener elements 24 and 25 in the direction toward the end at I9 whereby the fastener elements are engaged drawing the stringers toward one another and positioning the sealing elements 20 and 2| in the desired overlapping sealing relation. During such movement toward the end at I9, the lateral portions 2|lb and 2 Ib slide along the inwardly curved or dished faces and 5I of the upper plate 26 especially at the region at 48 of such runner. flexed upwardly in contact with the curved faces 50 and 5I at the region at 4I with minimum abrading action at the edges thereof by virtue of the offset streamline stem 43h including the tapered groove 52 and curved faces 59 and 5I arrangement. The diagonally ridged arrangement of the upper plate at the region at 49 makes possible merging and positioning the lateral portions in the desired sealing relation, such portions smoothly passing in overlapping relation with one another between the upper plate and the projecting portion 46 at the region at 49 during such engaging operation of the runner.

Upon the entrance of the runner to the slot 30, the sealing elements 23 and 2| are spread apart relative to one another under the spreading action of the runner at the end 43 thereof acting upon the stringers 22 and 23, the fastener elements 24 and 25, and the member 3I including arm portions 33 and 34, despite the inwardly urging action of the spring 33. When the runner 21 is positioned in the slot 33 at the determinate location established by stop means 33, the lateral portions 20h and 2lb of the sealing elements are resiliently flexed upwardly against the curved faces 50 and 5I of the upper plate 23 and are also similarly flexed at their merged region about the faces 50 and 5I of the upper plate at the end 43 of the runner, and the rounded end face of the projecting portion 43 including the streamlined stem 4Gb, as shown especially in Fig. 5. In this manner the sealing elements resiliently press The lateral portions are` against the runner throughout their extent at the slot 30 whereby continuity of lip-sealing action is provided especially along the sides and rounded end of the stem 46h. By virtue of the ridged arrangement of the upper plate 26 at the region at 49 of the runner, the lateral portions 2Ilb and 2 Ib are also flexed and resiliently pressed against each other at their opposing faces. while the edge of the lateral portion 2 Ib presses against the underlying lateral portion 2Ilb at such region 4! of the runner, thus complete and effective sealing at the end at I9 is accomplished. The spring 39 and closing member 3l by virtue of their arrangement with the sealing elements 2l and 2| prevent objectionable flexing of the margins I3 and I1 and stringers 22 and 23 in the direction normal to such margins and stringers whereby breakage of the seal is avoided, especially at the merging union of the lateral portions at then end 43 of the runner. Such breakage of the seal is avoided under the stiffening and bracing action of the spring 39 and closing member 3I upon the sealing elements, which action eiectively prevents undue upward ilexure of the merged lateral portions away from the rounded end region of the runner.

To open the closure I5, the runner 21 is manipulated in the direction away from the end at I9 whereby the fastener elements are disengaged and the sealing elements are again positioned in separated relation to one another under the spreading apart action of the runner upon the stringers 22 and 23. When the runner 21 is removed from its determinate position in the slot 30, the spring 39 urges the arms 33 and 34 of the closing member 3i toward one another and positions the sealing elements substantially as shown especially in Fig. 2, whereby the lateral portions 20h and 2lb are re-positionedfor again seating sealingly against the upper plate 26 when the runner is again manipulated in the engaging direction.

Despite the presence of the runner between the sealing lips or lateral portions 20h and 2lb of the sealing elements at the end of the closure for the closed condition thereof, as shown especially in Fig. l, complete sealing is effected by virtue of the continuity of the lip seal, the lips being effective to seal against the specially shaped surfaces of the runner and then along the slot 33 at the region at 49 by lip-action of the sealing element 2| against the other sealing element 23, there being no break in the continuity of the lip-sealing action as the lips pass olf the surfaces of the runner.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the following claims:

I claim:

1. A sealing closure for adjacent margins having a slot between them terminating in a closed end, said closure comprising fastener means for detachably securing said margins including a closing member movable along said slot and positionable at said end, and sealing elements of resilient material extending along said margins and merging at said end. said sealing elements comprising lateral portions of said material tapering to edges and being in continuation of one another along a continuously curved path around said end at the region of merger of said elements, said closing member having a seating surface with a continuously rounded end area matching the curve of and slidably cooperating with said sealing elements and said sealing elements slidably cooperating with each other for continuity of sealing along said slot and sealing continuously around the rounded surface of said member by lip-action fiexure of the edge of one of said lateral portions against the other sealing element and against said rounded surface.

2. A sealing closure for adjacent margins having a slot between them terminating in a closed end, said closure comprising a sealing element extendingalong one oi' said margins and continuously about said end and along the other of said margins, said sealing element including at the first margin a lateral portion of resilient material tapering to an edge for sealing by lipaction of said edge against the element at the other margin, said lateral portion and edge extending along a continuously curved path around said closed end, and a member movable between the parts of said sealing element at said margins and positionable at said end, said member having a seating surface with a continuously rounded end area matching the curve of and slidably cooperating with said element for continuity of sealing along said surface at said end by iiexure of said lateral portion and sliding contact of said edge with said seating surface continuously about the closed end.

3. A sealing closure for adjacent margins having a slot between them terminating in a closed end, said closure comprising slide fastener means fordetachably securing said margins including a runner movable along said slot and positionable at said end, and a sealing element of resilient rubber-like material extending along one of said margins and continuously in a continuously curved path around said closed end and along the other of said margins, said sealing element comprising at the rst margin a lateral portion of said material tapering to an edge for sealing by lip-action of said edge against the element at the other margin, said lateral portion and edge extending continuously along said curved path around said closed end, and said runner having a seating surface including a generally rounded end portion slidably cooperating with said sealing element for continuity of sealing along said surface at said closed end by ilexure of said lateral portion and sliding contact of said edge with said surface continuously about the closed end.

4. A sealing closure for adjacent margins having a slot between them terminating in a closed l end. said closure comprising fastener means for detachably securing said margins including a closing member movable along said slot and positionable at said end, and a sealing element of resilient rubber-like material extending along one of said margins and continuously in a continuously curved path around said end and along the other of said margins at a face of the closure, said sealing element comprising at the first margin a lateral portion of said material tapering to an edge for sealing by lip-action of said edge against the element at the other margin, said lateral portion and said edge extending continuously along said curved path around said closed end, and said sealing element comprising an enlarged portion of said material extending in integrally united backing relation to said lateral portion around and to the sides of said closed end for stiffening said sealing element against separating movement at said closed end, said closing member having a seating surface with a continuously rounded end area slidably cooperating with said sealing element for continuity of 10 sealing along said surface at said end by iiexure of said lateral portion and sliding contact of said edge continuously about said rounded end area of said seating surface.

5. A sealing closure for adjacent margins having a slot between them terminating in a closed end, said closure comprising slide fastener means for detachably securing said margins including a runner movable along said slot and positionable at said end, sealing elements of resilient rubberlike material extending along said margins and merging at said end at a, face of the closure, said sealing elements comprising lateral portions tapering to edges and being in continuation of one another along a continuously curved path around said end at the region of merger of said elements, and a, stiil'ening portion of said material extending about said end in integrally united backing relation to said sealing elements including their continuously curved continuations for stiii'ening the sealing elements against separating movement, said stiffening portion having a flexible element of spring metal embedded therein at and extending continuously around said end for further stiening said sealing elements against separating movement, and said runner comprising a plate element in overlapping relation to said lateral portions and having a seating surface with a continuously rounded end area slidably cooperating with said sealing elements and said sealing elements slidably cooperating with each other for continuity of sealing along y said slot and sealing continuously around the rounded surface of said plate element by lipaction iiexure ofthe edge of one of said lateral portions ag'ainst the other sealing element and against said rounded surface.

6. A sealing closure as defined in claim 5 in which said slide fastener means includes means for stopping said runner at a determinate position in said slot adjacent said region of merger of said sealing elements and for promoting ilexure of said lateral portions against said seating surface of the runner for continuity of sealing about said closed end.

'7. A sealing closure comprising slide fastener means having separable margins and terminating in an end portion, sealing elements extending along said margins and terminating integrally in an end loop continuous around said end portion and being cooperable to seal by contacting relation of said elements with each other along said margins in the closed condition of said fastener means, and a runner included in said fastener means disposed between said sealing elements and holding them locally separated when the fastener is closed and said runner is at said end portion, said runner having upper and lower plates spaced-apart one of which plates has a seating surface including a continuously rounded end area entirely around the same cooperable with said elements in the end loop thereof to provide a. seal at said end portion in continuation with the seal of said elements with one another.

8. A sealing closure comprising slide fastener means having separable margins and terminating in an end portion, sealing elements disposable in overlapping relation along said margins in the closed condition of said fastener means, one of said elements terminating in an end loop continuous around said end portion in integral continuation of the other element and tapering to an edge for sealing against the other element by lip-action at said edge, and a runner included in said fastener means disposed between said sealing elements and holding them locally separated when the fastener is closed and said runner is at said end portion, said runner having upper and lower plates spaced-apart one of which plates has a seating surface with oppositely inclined s ide faces and an inclined continuously rounded end face slidably cooperable with the edge of said end loop of the tapered element to seal by lip-action of the latter against said seating surface.

9. A sealing closure comprising slide fastener means having separable margins and terminating in an end portion, sealing elements disposable in overlapping relation along said margins in the closed condition of said fastener means, one of said elements terminating in an end loop continuous around said end portion in integral continuation of the other element and tapering to an edge for sealing against the other element by lip-action at said edge, and a runner included in said fastener means having upper and lower plates spaced-apart and an upstanding post projecting upwardly from said upper plate and disposed between said sealing elements and holding them locally separated when the fastener is closed and said runner is at said end portion, said upper plate and post having a seating surface including a continuously rounded end area entirely around the same cooperable with the edge of said ing elements against said surface. said seating surface having sloping side faces oppositely inclined to one another providing a ridged portion of said surface extending along said plate element and projecting therefrom for positioning between said sealing elements at said end, and

said ridged portion having an end face merging with said side faces for continuity of contact with said sealing elements. l

11. A runner for a slide fastener cooperable with sealing elements on the fastener extending about a closed end thereof to seal said fastener at said end, said runner comprising a plate element having a seating surface positionable adjacent said sealing elements for continuity of sealing at said closed end by nexure of said sealing elements against said surface, said seating surface having sloping side faces oppoitely inclined to ne another providing a ridged portion of said surface extending along said plate element and projecting therefrom for positioning between said sealing elements at said closed end and said seating surface having an end face generally rounded toward said closed end and merging with said side faces for continuity of contact with said sealing elements about said closed end.

l2. A runner for a sealing slide fastener closure in which adjacent margins provide a slot between them terminating in a closed end and in which cooperating fastener elements extend along said margins and a sealing element of resilient material including a tapered lateral portion extends along said margins and about said closed end, said runner comprising a channeled lower plate, an upper plate and a spreader post spacing said plates apart and providing therewith a track for said fastener elements to engage and disengage the latter elements, said spreader post being generally rounded in a portion thereof at the end of said runner and positionable adjacent said closed end, said upper plate having a seating surface for cooperating with said sealing element for continuity of sealing at said closed end by flexure of said lateral portion against said surface, said seating surface having sloping side faces oppositely inclined to one another providing a ridged portion of said surface extending along said upper plate intermediate the sides thereof for positioning between the oppositely disposed lateral portions at said closed end, and said seating surface having an end face generally rounded toward said end of the runner merging with said side faces and the face of the rounded portion of said spreader post.

CARROLL P. KRUPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain of 1936 

